Trump’s Military Parade Could Cost $30 million

The last such celebration in Washington occurred in the summer 1991 when the end of the 41-day Persian Gulf War was celebrated with a $12 million dollar victory parade.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said earlier this month that he is working to develop plans to fulfill the president’s request.

“We’re all aware in this country of the president’s affection and respect for the military,” Mr. Mattis said. “We have been putting together some options, we will send them up to the White House for decision.”

Some Republicans have been reluctant to endorse a military parade. Last week, Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana said “confidence is silent and insecurity is loud” and that the United States did not need to show off its power.

Representative Barbara Lee, a Democrat of California, pressed Mr. Mulvaney at the hearing on Wednesday about paying for a parade and suggested that holding one is reminiscent of displays of grandeur often seen in authoritarian countries.

.@RepBarbaraLee: “How much is that parade going to cost and where is that money coming from?”@mickmulvaneyomb: “I’ve seen various different cost estimates from between I think $10 million and $30 million depending on the size of the parade.” pic.twitter.com/vsgO02PMPi

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CSPAN (@cspan)
Feb. 14, 2018

But the parade’s potential price tag could be its biggest obstacle. Republicans are already facing criticism from conservative economists and others for adding to the federal deficit at a moment when the United States is already borrowing heavily and when the nation’s debt has already topped $20 trillion. The White House budget released on Monday projects deficits will grow $7 trillion over the next decade, in part because of the $1.5 trillion tax cut that Republicans passed last year.

The Trump administration has proposed cutting $3 trillion in nondefense discretionary spending, including by reducing funds for social welfare programs. This week, the Trump budget proposed cutting funding for the low-income food program known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, to pay for large increases in spending on the military. According to the left-leaning Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, the $30 million that would be spent on the parade would provide annual food stamp benefits for about 20,000 people.

“This would be a giant waste of money all in the name of satisfying the president’s fragile ego,” said Andrew Bates, a spokesman for American Bridge, the Democratic political action committee. “Donald Trump has already made the deficit skyrocket with massive tax cuts for the richest Americans and corporations; there’s no reason to add nearly $30 million to that number.”